I have a BMW E30 320is as a daily hack at the moment, and was wondering is
it worth hanging onto when it's no longer required (soon-ish). Picked it up
for silly money, really nice condition, etc., etc. Are these rare? Haven't
seen any others for sale trawling the net, just the odd 318is.

Wouldn't want to let this one get away if it were a "keeper", like most
people I've let cars go before that I would kill for now.

"deadlock" nobody@nowhere_yes_its a_cliche.com wrote:

I have a BMW E30 320is as a daily hack at the moment, and was wondering is
it worth hanging onto when it's no longer required (soon-ish). Picked it up
for silly money, really nice condition, etc., etc. Are these rare? Haven't
seen any others for sale trawling the net, just the odd 318is.

Wouldn't want to let this one get away if it were a "keeper", like most
people I've let cars go before that I would kill for now.

If it's a real 320iS, then yes, it's worth keeping.

If, as I suspect, it's just a normal 3 door 320, then no.

--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Fiat Marea 20v HLX - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

In ,
SteveH decided to enlighten our sheltered souls
with a rant as follows
"deadlock" nobody@nowhere_yes_its a_cliche.com wrote:

I have a BMW E30 320is as a daily hack at the moment, and was
wondering is it worth hanging onto when it's no longer required
(soon-ish). Picked it up for silly money, really nice condition,
etc., etc. Are these rare? Haven't seen any others for sale trawling
the net, just the odd 318is.

Wouldn't want to let this one get away if it were a "keeper", like
most people I've let cars go before that I would kill for now.

If it's a real 320iS, then yes, it's worth keeping.

That'll be the LHD one then.


If, as I suspect, it's just a normal 3 door 320, then no.

I'd like a 320iS, that little four-pot is a gem. Expensive to put right when
it's not maintained properly though - £1200[1] to replace the cam chain,
ffs.

[1] From a "specialist", that is.
--
Pete M

Alfa 155
Ford Capri (still broked)
Porsche 911 3.2 (For Sale - ebay soon)
COSOC #5, OMF#9
Scouse Git extraordinaire. Liverpool, Great Britain

"Pete M" wrote in message
...
In ,
SteveH decided to enlighten our sheltered souls
with a rant as follows
"deadlock" nobody@nowhere_yes_its a_cliche.com wrote:

I have a BMW E30 320is as a daily hack at the moment, and was
wondering is it worth hanging onto when it's no longer required
(soon-ish). Picked it up for silly money, really nice condition,
etc., etc. Are these rare? Haven't seen any others for sale trawling
the net, just the odd 318is.

Wouldn't want to let this one get away if it were a "keeper", like
most people I've let cars go before that I would kill for now.

If it's a real 320iS, then yes, it's worth keeping.

That'll be the LHD one then.


If, as I suspect, it's just a normal 3 door 320, then no.

I'd like a 320iS, that little four-pot is a gem. Expensive to put right
when it's not maintained properly though - £1200[1] to replace the cam
chain, ffs.

[1] From a "specialist", that is.
--
Yes, LHD, hence peanuts price, 4 pot 16v and it has BMW M-Power on the
rocker cover which was, I must admit, the bit that swung the deal for me.
Goes like you know what off a shovel too. Imported from Portugal by its
former (Portugese female) owner who lives just down the road. Built 1988.

Maintenance/ servicing costs don't worry me, another week and I'll have my
"proper" car back and it won't be doing daily driver duties any more, so if
it breaks it breaks and will have to wait its turn to be fixed. FWIW,
mechanically it checks out. Electrics, odd bits of trim and the bodywork
around the tail lights could use some work. Which is why I wondered if it
was a keeper or not. Sounds like it is, cue skinned knuckles and harsh
language.

On Mon, 21 Nov 2005 00:07:48 GMT, "deadlock" nobody@nowhere_yes_its
a_cliche.com wrote:
I have a BMW E30 320is as a daily hack at the moment, and was
wondering is it worth hanging onto when it's no longer required
(soon-ish). Picked it up for silly money, really nice condition,
etc., etc. Are these rare? Haven't seen any others for sale trawling
the net, just the odd 318is.

Yes, LHD, hence peanuts price, 4 pot 16v and it has BMW M-Power on the
rocker cover which was, I must admit, the bit that swung the deal for me.
Goes like you know what off a shovel too.

If you were near me in the YooEss, I'd take a good look at it and
prolly be seriously tempted. I have been trying to find a good one
for a while for autocross, especially since E30 M3s are like hens'
teeth but a lot more expensive. Don't give it away, whatever you do.

"deadlock" nobody@nowhere_yes_its a_cliche.com wrote:

I'd like a 320iS, that little four-pot is a gem. Expensive to put right
when it's not maintained properly though - £1200[1] to replace the cam
chain, ffs.

[1] From a "specialist", that is.
--
Yes, LHD, hence peanuts price, 4 pot 16v and it has BMW M-Power on the
rocker cover which was, I must admit, the bit that swung the deal for me.
Goes like you know what off a shovel too. Imported from Portugal by its
former (Portugese female) owner who lives just down the road. Built 1988.

It's definitely a 'keeper', then.

Effectively an Italian market M3, but sleeved down to 2lt from 2.5lt due
to Italian tax rules.
--
Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
http://www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Fiat Marea 20v HLX - COSOC KOTL
BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

In ,
SteveH decided to enlighten our sheltered souls
with a rant as follows
"deadlock" nobody@nowhere_yes_its a_cliche.com wrote:

I'd like a 320iS, that little four-pot is a gem. Expensive to put
right when it's not maintained properly though - £1200[1] to
replace the cam chain, ffs.

[1] From a "specialist", that is.
--
Yes, LHD, hence peanuts price, 4 pot 16v and it has BMW M-Power on
the rocker cover which was, I must admit, the bit that swung the
deal for me. Goes like you know what off a shovel too. Imported from
Portugal by its former (Portugese female) owner who lives just down
the road. Built 1988.

It's definitely a 'keeper', then.

Effectively an Italian market M3, but sleeved down to 2lt from 2.5lt
due to Italian tax rules.

Um, not exactly.

It's a smaller capacity M3 engine, yeah, but the suspension and bodyshell
are basic 325i stuff.

Four stud hubs as opposed to 5 stud, 3 series instead of 5 series wheel
bearings etc.

I'd love one.


--
Pete M

Alfa 155
Ford Capri (still broked)
Porsche 911 3.2 (For Sale - ebay soon)
COSOC #5, OMF#9
Scouse Git extraordinaire. Liverpool, Great Britain

"Pete M" wrote in message
...
In ,
SteveH decided to enlighten our sheltered souls
with a rant as follows
"deadlock" nobody@nowhere_yes_its a_cliche.com wrote:

I'd like a 320iS, that little four-pot is a gem. Expensive to put
right when it's not maintained properly though - £1200[1] to
replace the cam chain, ffs.

[1] From a "specialist", that is.
--
Yes, LHD, hence peanuts price, 4 pot 16v and it has BMW M-Power on
the rocker cover which was, I must admit, the bit that swung the
deal for me. Goes like you know what off a shovel too. Imported from
Portugal by its former (Portugese female) owner who lives just down
the road. Built 1988.

It's definitely a 'keeper', then.

Effectively an Italian market M3, but sleeved down to 2lt from 2.5lt
due to Italian tax rules.

Um, not exactly.

It's a smaller capacity M3 engine, yeah, but the suspension and bodyshell
are basic 325i stuff.

Four stud hubs as opposed to 5 stud, 3 series instead of 5 series wheel
bearings etc.

I'd love one.


Does it still have the horribly slow standard E30 steering or a quick rack?

In ,
john decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a
rant as follows
"Pete M" wrote in
message ...
In ,
SteveH decided to enlighten our sheltered
souls with a rant as follows
"deadlock" nobody@nowhere_yes_its a_cliche.com wrote:

I'd like a 320iS, that little four-pot is a gem. Expensive to put
right when it's not maintained properly though - £1200[1] to
replace the cam chain, ffs.

[1] From a "specialist", that is.
--
Yes, LHD, hence peanuts price, 4 pot 16v and it has BMW M-Power on
the rocker cover which was, I must admit, the bit that swung the
deal for me. Goes like you know what off a shovel too. Imported
from Portugal by its former (Portugese female) owner who lives
just down the road. Built 1988.

It's definitely a 'keeper', then.

Effectively an Italian market M3, but sleeved down to 2lt from 2.5lt
due to Italian tax rules.

Um, not exactly.

It's a smaller capacity M3 engine, yeah, but the suspension and
bodyshell are basic 325i stuff.

Four stud hubs as opposed to 5 stud, 3 series instead of 5 series
wheel bearings etc.

I'd love one.


Does it still have the horribly slow standard E30 steering or a quick
rack?

I think it's got the standard E30 rack, but I'm not sure.

Should think an M3 rack would fit if you used 320iS track rod ends instead
of M3 ones.


--
Pete M

Alfa 155
Ford Capri (still broked)
Porsche 911 3.2 (For Sale - ebay soon)
COSOC #5, OMF#9
Scouse Git extraordinaire. Liverpool, Great Britain

"Pete M" wrote in message
...
In ,
john decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with
a rant as follows
"Pete M" wrote in
message ...
In ,
SteveH decided to enlighten our sheltered
souls with a rant as follows
"deadlock" nobody@nowhere_yes_its a_cliche.com wrote:

I'd like a 320iS, that little four-pot is a gem. Expensive to put
right when it's not maintained properly though - £1200[1] to
replace the cam chain, ffs.

[1] From a "specialist", that is.
--
Yes, LHD, hence peanuts price, 4 pot 16v and it has BMW M-Power on
the rocker cover which was, I must admit, the bit that swung the
deal for me. Goes like you know what off a shovel too. Imported
from Portugal by its former (Portugese female) owner who lives
just down the road. Built 1988.

It's definitely a 'keeper', then.

Effectively an Italian market M3, but sleeved down to 2lt from 2.5lt
due to Italian tax rules.

Um, not exactly.

It's a smaller capacity M3 engine, yeah, but the suspension and
bodyshell are basic 325i stuff.

Four stud hubs as opposed to 5 stud, 3 series instead of 5 series
wheel bearings etc.

I'd love one.


Does it still have the horribly slow standard E30 steering or a quick
rack?

I think it's got the standard E30 rack, but I'm not sure.

Should think an M3 rack would fit if you used 320iS track rod ends instead
of M3 ones.

Apparently, the M3 rack is indeed a straight swap, presumably with 320is
track rod ends as you say.